Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-16
Ssletf Reabing.
the STRANGE DIAMOND.

Listen said Mile Mars. as she
showed NE magnificent diamond that
sparkied on her finger, Il will tell you
tue story Of that ring"
Sometime in Isl played the
role Of MademoiseiIe DE- Beauval in
'Bsuesis ct PaIaprat.'
:'Here few words OF explanation
are necessary, that you may have an
idea OF the piece.
"Bruesis and Palaptat were two
poets, who were in difficulties. They
had written a comedy called lie
Grond.ur, which was their only hope
and it had been hi,sed of the stage.
What were they to do: and what was to
become OF them ? Already NJ. Graphin.
the sheriGs officer, was at the door.
He Knocked and entered. The two
pests we're about TO be marched off
to- prison, when smiling angle, IN
tie shape OF fMademoiselle de Beauval,
who, in the play,' is said 10 be we'll
kaown actress, rescued them from
their perilous situation and the hands
OF the law. She. too. the charming
w.man. bal had debts, aud knew
wBat it VAS to be distress. But she
still owned n splendid diamond, which
VS. worth large price. So she hand.
ets 1t 10 PalapTst, who Was free. AT
this canjuncture the Due de Nendome
arrived at the scene just in time to
save BiuesIs so that freedom, pient,
u, -, anne back once more in'o the
- =. .ss9 Poets What MsJsm
oiselle lie Beauval's precious stone
had ,nmeuced Was brought & II hap
py close by the princely generosity Ui
the Due de Neu,Ivme.
The whole Of this little plot is
tame enough, as Won see, vet the play
proved great success
Ion the night OF the first perform
ancc. the stage manager handed me
the sn called diamond rlng which VAS
To save he two friends. II was u
mere brass toop set with bit of gIass.
| took it without further attention,
and after the peTformanc ce gave 1t back
10 on of the theatrical att ndants.
1.-TWO DAYS after, the same pretty
comedy vas announced on the boards.
This time il arcw a crowded house
| was abs Mt TO 60 forward on the
siag-, when, instead Of bringing the
hrass ring Of the two Il VS. before, the
stage mana ger handed me an elegant
jewel box in light blue velvet, with u
note delicAtely scaled. a sweet per.
fume came from The casket. ] gazrd
with astoaishment at the message and
the messenger.
Madam said he, the lox and let.
ter are for you. They were handed
in just now
"By whom - asked.
"By a servant in livery, who said
you were to replace the ring used the
dav before yesterday by this one"
80 saying. the stage manager put
the jewel box in my hand. | opened
it. Judge of my surprise when |
found it contained the most lovely dia-
mond imaginable. was ut first daz
zled by the flood OF rays which shot
out from its rich prison of satin and
velvet. Then casting my eyes on the
letter, broke the seal with feverish
haste. in the hope OF discovering the
meaning of so singular an enigma
1t read as follows:
The ring | saw on Maicmoiselle
de Beauval's finger Is worthy neither
of her nor Of you Pray accept this
one, Madam, without hesitation for
the present or fear of the future. 1t
harbors no prof.ne thought, no sinful
desire. To the artist alone is the
ring offered. He who sends it will
remain through life the most unknown
of your admirers; he herewith pledges
his word as an honest, upright gen.
tleman to keep bis engagement.
81 sought for name at the bottom
of the note it was not signed. | felt
like refusing the ring, and was 10th to
put it on my finger. Such generous
disinterestet ness is 80 rare that | was
mistrustful. Yet, what was to do?
The curtain had risen and the public
awaited my appearance. Necessity
did away with my scruples.
81 went on the stage. MY eyes dur
ing the whole performance sought to
discover who the writer of the mys
lerious letter might be. But it was
to no purpose. The spectacle over, |
regained my dressing-room prey of
the most anxious reverie.
"The very first thing my chamber.
maid noticed was the diamond. | told
her how | came by it.
"Madam," she said, the stone must
be false one,
"Why? what makes you think SO ?
"Because," answered the maid, if a
real diamond its value would be enor-
nous; I'm sure it must be spurious.
Really = Well, SO much the bet
ter! The noble lords who make such
presents to u woman on the stage are
,,oro ortop ,norobnntc N bo soopor n,